Where Fiction Meets Friction
Book Club Drama is back with episode 4. Last month, Patti Smith almost joined the group via FaceTime and Barb, after much indecision, chose a new faucet.— Susan Dabbar, Editor-in-Chief
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Subject: Has Anyone Heard from Gloria?
From: Diane
To: Prose & Cons Book Club
Date: Wednesday, 9:02 a.m.
Hi all,
Quick question: Has anyone heard from Gloria confirming tomorrow night at her yurt? I texted her about parking and haven’t heard back. Also—and I say this with love—we need to commit to actually finishing this book. We’ve had a run where half the room is checking out the summary on Chat.
I finished Whalefall and have THOUGHTS.
From: Janet
Date: Wednesday, 9:11 a.m.
I support Diane’s gentle scolding. We’ve had three recent meetings where a critical mass did not finish. I haven’t heard from Gloria either. I assumed she was preparing a sound bath for us.
From: Ellen
Date: Wednesday, 9:18 a.m.
This might be a reason to postpone. I’m only 40% in and honestly not convinced it’s a real book and not an Ayawaska trip. The entire thing takes place inside a sperm whale’s stomach. That’s not a setting, that’s a digestive tract.
And in my defense, I DID finish the last one. For the most part.
From: Melissa
Date: Wednesday, 9:22 a.m.
I feel attacked. I will finish tonight out of civic duty. I thought it was allegorical? Like Jonah meets Moby but with anxiety.
From: Abby
Date: Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.
Gloria posted a team of huskies on her Insta story and says she’s “above the 66th parallel with limited connectivity.” Hmmm, according to Perplexity, isn’t that the Arctic?
Yes, let’s finish this one. I paid for the hardcover!
From: Laurie
Date: Wednesday, 9:41 a.m.
THE ARCTIC?? She said her yurt was 30 minutes away.
And Diane is right. Last month three people hadn’t read the book, or read the wrong one.
From: Gloria
Date: Wednesday, 2:57 p.m. (sent via satellite)
Beloved readers,
I write from an icebreaker north of Svalbard. The Wi-Fi is intermittent and the aurora is breathtaking. Sadly, our return has been delayed because of what the captain calls “dynamic conditions.” So I won’t make it back in time to host. Please forgive me. I am with you in spirit and whale song.
Love and light,
G
From: Barb
Date: Wednesday, 3:04 p.m.
Let’s cancel. I haven’t finished and frankly the premise is gross. I respect sea creatures, but 300 pages inside of one is a bit much.
From: Diane
Date: Wednesday, 3:10 p.m.
We are NOT canceling. Can we pivot to a restaurant?
From: Janet
Date: Wednesday, 3:14 p.m.
Il Pazzo has a table at 6:45 tomorrow. Attendance requires reading at least 75%. (Only half joking.)
From: Melissa
Date: Wednesday, 3:16 p.m.
Good call. If I’m discussing gastric symbolism, I need bolognese.
Subject: Last Night
From: Janet
Date: Friday, 8:12 a.m.
Thank you all for rallying at Il Pazzo. Despite the unflattering lighting and harsh acoustics, I thought it was one of our better discussions. The consensus seemed to be: plot = ridiculous, creativity + structure = impressive. Also noteworthy: five completions out of eight, which is progress.
From: Diane
Date: Friday, 8:25 a.m.
I stand by my position that it was a well-crafted horror story disguised as literary fiction. The pacing mirrored the protagonist’s oxygen deprivation. But the tiramisu was transcendent. Apologies about all the gluten, Ellen. How’s the bloating situation? And speaking of bloating, Gail sends her love. She went to Mayo for a digestive sleep assessment and will rejoin next month.
From: Barb
Date: Friday, 8:31 a.m.
Is this a sign we need a facilitator? I could ask my SIL at Bard to recommend one.
Abby, didn’t you meet a literary critic on a plane?
From: Abby
Date: Friday, 8:40 a.m.
Yes! Seat 14C to Seattle. She wrote for the Paris Review and said she sometimes facilitates book groups for cabernet and curiosity. I’ll try to track her down.
From: Laurie
Date: Friday, 8:52 a.m.
For the record, I finished, but it’s unclear why it got so much acclaim. Every review calls it “visceral,” which means claustrophobic and damp. Still, having 5/8 of the group semi-prepared made a difference.
From: Melissa
Date: Friday, 9:03 a.m.
I read the last 40 pages this morning. Yes, the plot is stupid. But the ending had me blubbering, lol.
From: Gloria
Date: Friday, 1:17 p.m. (satellite)
Dearest ones,
Catching up between lectures. I must gently disagree with the “stupid plot” accusation. From what I understand, Whalefall is based on true events and should be read as nonfiction survival. I haven’t started it yet, but the metaphor of being held inside nature feels significant.
Also, I may extend my voyage to the Faroes. The yurt will wait.
Love and light,
G
From: Janet
Date: Friday, 1:26 p.m.
Gloria, with respect, a man living inside a whale for days is not nonfiction. That is Pinocchio. Which, full disclosure, I didn’t finish either.
From: Diane
Date: Friday, 1:33 p.m.
This is exactly why we need a facilitator.
From: Barb
Date: Friday, 1:40 p.m.
Agreed. Abby, please find the JetBlue Critic. In the meantime, next month I’m choosing something where no one gets eaten. I’ve spoken to everybody and the obvious choice is The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. Happy reading!
